Armenia

1. VOLUNTEERING
IN ARMENIA
Discover Armenia trough volunteering

2. ABOUT ARMENIA Brief facts
PAGE 2
Bari Galoust in Armenia
BARI GALOUST MEANS WELCOME IN ARMENIA
First of all we are very happy that you are interested in our
volunteering projects in Armenia. In this booklet we will provide
you with the information you might need to know before you're
coming to Armenia. This page will give you some brief facts about
Armenia. In the next pages you will find information about the
geography, culture, health and safety, and transport in Armenia.
Also we will give you some tips what you can do in your leisure
time and we will tell you about the HUJ organization and what it's
like to have your volunteering time in Armenia.
Below you will see the Coat of Arms of Armenia. In the centre of
the shield you will see Mount Ararat with Noahs Ark on top of it.
The story goes that the ark rested on the biblical Ararat Mountain
after the great flood. Ararat is also considered as the national
symbol of Armenia and with good weather you have great sight on
the mountain from Yerevan.
Surrounding Mount Ararat are the symbols of the old Armenian
dynasties. The shield is holded by the eagle and the lion. The
colors of the Coat of Arms are red, blue and orange that are
referring to the Armenian flag.
POPULATION
3,1 mln (as of 2010). Main
ethnical groups:
Armenians(94 %), Russians,
Greeks, Kurds, Assyrians,
Yazidi, Jews, Georgians,
Polish, etc.
RELIGION
Apostolic Christianity
Armenia was the first country
that adopted Christianity as
a state religion in 301
START LANGUAGE
Armenian (Indo-European
language family)
Most of inhabitants also
speak Russian and in
paticular younger people
also speak English
TIME ZONE
GMT + 4/ NB: We do not have
time shifts in
autumn/summer
CAPITAL
Yerevan, founded in 782 B.C.
CURRENCY
Armenian Dram (AMD).
Up-to-date exchange rate is
available on
http://www.cba.am
The approximate exchange
rate is (for reference only!):
1 EUR = 540-560 AMD
depends on course
THE COAT OF ARMS OF ARMENIA

3. PAGE 3
Climate and weather
"It's cold but hot"
In Armenia there is a continental climate. The winters are cold and
the summers are hot. Due to the many mountains in the country,
only a small portion of its territory is located below 1.000 meters
above sea level. The climate in higher parts is colder and wetter
(and snowy in the winter as well), while at lower parts the rains
are scarce and the summer is very hot.
"Throughout the year you
will find at least one season
that you will love and one
that you hate with all your
heart."
"There are only two types of
weather, either you can see
the Ararat or you can't
What our long-term volunteers
are saying....
RAJA
RICHARD
EVGENII

4. Holidays
Armenia has a set of public, religious holidays and days of
memory to be respected and considered as non-working days.
Additionally, the volunteer gets 2 holiday days for each month of
their service.
PAGE 4
1 January
6 January
8 March
24 April
1 May
9 May
28 May
5 July
21 September
31 December
New Years Day
Christmas Day
International Womens Day
Genocide Remembrance Day
International Workers Day
Victory and peace Day
First Republic Day
Constitution Day
Indipendence Day
New Years Eve
Health and safety
GENERAL SAFETY
Armenia is a save country to visit. However, you are advised to
observe the same precautions with your personal safety and
possessions as you would in any other country or at home.
VACCINATIONS
There is no vaccination requirement to enter Armenia, neither
need of one to be on a safe side. In case of need you can always
find any type of vaccination here. For COVID there are even
different mobile points to get a vaccine.
COVID SITUATION
The COVID situation in Armenia and the restrictions for traveling
to or from Armenia, differ per moment. Have a look on the website
of your own country and on this websites for the latest news:
https://www.gov.am/en/covid-travel-restrictions/

5. PAGE 5
Transport
The transport in Yerevan exist of buses, minibuses (so-
called“marshrutka”-s), trolleybuses and metro in Yerevan. The price
of one trip is 100 AMD (50 AMD in trolleybus). Also taxis are not
very expensive in Armenia. For the majority of cases, your ride is
to cost 600-1000 AMD. Shared e-scooters and bikes are becoming
more populair in Yerevan although their are not special roads to
use them.
Your mentor will introduce you to the peculiarities of Armenian
transport system during the first several days of your Service.
Marshrutka
Bus
Metro
What our long-term volunteers
are saying about Armenian
transport...
"Cool attraction for low
cost"
“Don’t mind the honking it’s
normal”
"It is impossible to get lost
in Yerevan because
everyone is willing to help
you with finding the right
way"
ANNA
LISON
EVGENII

6. PAGE 6
Leisure time
OUTDOOR
Armenia is a mountainous country and has beautiful landscapes.
From summer to winter, hikingtours in Armenia are quite popular,
offering a wide variety of activities from camping in a forest or
near a lake to climbing snow covered mountains and observing
the land from above the clouds. You can walk through lush forests,
or hike in a dry, rocky mountainous area. In winter you are
welcome to spend your time in Tsagkhadzor, snowboarding,
skiiing or just taking the ropeway to the top of the mountain or
chilling in a cafe with a nice cup of tea. Lake Sevan is a favourite
place to spend summer days at. You can also try paragliding and
ziplining in the most beautiful parts of Armenia.
Closer by Yerevan you can visit the Garni Temple, Geghard
Monastary Complex or the Holy See of Etchimadzin. Within half an
hour you have the feeling that you are in a completely different
country, away from all the cars, and the crowded city.
EVENTS
If you are a fun of music you can find a lot of concerts in Yerevan.
Opera and Ballet Theater for classical music lovers, Poligraf for
techno, and music clubs for a diverse music genres. There are also
open air concerts and festivals organised during the summer and
autumn. Wine lovers can take part in Wine days and visit Areni
village for Wine festival.
The best way to connect to locals and to cool down during the hot
summer season is to join the Vardavar celebration, when locals
pour water at each other.
What our long-term volunteers
are saying about their leisure
time activities
"You are never bored and for
every person there are nice
things to do. Wether you like
going out, visiting museums,
watching opera or ballet in
the theater or enjoying the
nature"
ELIAVA
FANNY
"During your time here you
will discover the interesting
ancient culture, history and
beautiful country, also you
will learn a lot of new things
about yourself "

7. Bus
PAGE 7
Leisure time
MUSEUM
If you want to feel close to Armenian, history, culture and art start
from the History Museum, Erebuni museum-fortress, National
Gallery, Matenadaran manuscript repository and Parajanov
Museum. If you want to get hit by Armenian culture don't miss the
Museum night in May. You can sneak in everywhere for free.
CAFE, RESTAURANTS AND PUB'S
There are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Yerevan and most of
them are very affordable. You are welcome to try local specialties
in one of the many traditional restaurants.
Don't be surprised with our pubs, because they are all
underground. Pubs are great for meeting locals, as well as other
foreigners, to play board games, dance or enjoy a concert.
What our long-term volunteers
are saying about their leisure
time activities
“There is a suprisingly
diverce and wide selection
of different bars, clubs and
restaurants”
"Most places are not very
touristy so you get to see
the countries real beauty
with its beautiful nature and
ancient monasteries "
NJOMZA
FANNY

8. ABOUT HUJ
PAGE 8
Welcome to HUJ
HISTORY
The Republican Headquarters of Student Brigades (HUJ) was
founded in 1965 and is registered as a non-governmental
organization. HUJ is a member of the Coordinating Committee of
International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) at UNESCO and the
Alliance of European Voluntary Service organizations.
At present HUJ organizes volunteer exchanges with 120 partner
organizations abroad and a volunteers database of 3000
volunteers.
OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Organize the activities of Armenian and foreign volunteers in
international workcamps in Armenia.
Send Armenian volunteers to international workcamps,
seminars, trainings, workshops, educational and other
programs abroad.
Organize seminars, trainings, and conferences in Armenia.
Organize the participation of foreign volunteers in long/
medium term and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects in
Armenia, as well as that of Armenian volunteers in countries
of Europe.
Take care of orphans, children with special needs and socially
indigent people.
The essential aims and objectives of HUJ are as follows:
CONTACT DETAILS
Adress:
Tel:
E-mail:
Url:
Facebook:
19a Koryun Street
0009 Yerevan, Armenia
+374 10 522 788,
+374 10 522 772
huj@arminco.com
http://www.huj.am
/hujarmenia

9. PAGE 9
OUR ACTIVITIES
Every year many Armenian volunteers participate in
ecological, construction, rehabilitation, cultural, aesthetic,
social projects, seminars and educational workcamps abroad.
Every summer HUJ organizes international and joint
workcamps in Armenia, where Armenian volunteers hand in
hand with foreign volunteers do ecological and renovation
work, take care of sick and disabled children, contribute to the
aesthetic education of orphans and lonely children.
Every year Armenian volunteers leave for European countries
to do their ESC with HUJ as their Sending Organisation.
European long-term ESC and Weltwärts (voluntary service
supported by Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
Development of Germany), and IYFD (voluntary service
supported by Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens,
Women and Youth) volunteers are hosted in projects in 15 Host
Organisations supported by HUJ.
What our long-term volunteers
are saying
“You have a support system
to fall back on”
"I never felt alone or afraid
because starting from
preparation ending with
welcoming and pick-up from
the airport, everything is
organized well "
ANGELA
ANNA

10. ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
PAGE 10
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
INTRODUCTION
Before you volunteering adventure in Armenia will start, we will
give you some information about what it is like to live in Armenia
as a volunteer and what to expect in your first week. And which
things you should arrange before coming here.
YOUR WEEKSCHEDULE
You will work 5 days per week with most of week-ends off. Twice a
week you will learn Armenian language in the Special Language
Centre. During the week-ends you will have an opportunity to
visit different historical places; there will be excursions to
different ancient places of Armenia and invitation to Armenian
families, to get to know the culture and traditions of Armenia
TRAINING AND LANGUAGE LESSONS
Training related to the volunteer’s activities will be given during
the first weeks of the project upon the volunteers’ arrival at
hosting organization. Additional support and education is given to
the volunteer when needed throughout the project by the EVS
coordinator and staff.
During your service, you got offered to have an On-Arrival
Training and a Mid-Term Evaluation (if the Service duration
exceeds 6 months), both organized by SALTO Eastern Europe and
Caucasus.
You get the change to learn Armenian language by attending
Armenian language courses. The lessons will be provided by an
English speaking teacher 2 times per week.
"Just do it bro"
NJOMZA
Still doubting...?
"Long-term volunteering (6-
12 months) gives you the
opportunity to see a lot of
the country, to fully dive
into the project, and
integrade into local lifestyle
what makes you understand
Armenian culture and people
more "
FANNY
RAJA
“Armenian class I really like
to do, it feels like you are
going back to school and
you can experience your
teenage years again.

11. PAGE 11
Marshrutka
ACCOMODATION
You will be living in a hostel or dormitory of the Linguistic
University with other volunteers (2 people per room). The both
places are very close to the city centre with the various ways of
getting around the city. Each volunteer is provided with the
“kitchen stuff” (plates, pans, glasses, tableware, etcetera).
ARRIVAL TIME AND MEETING POINT
Your mentor will pick you up at the airport upon arrival. To
arrange the pick-up we shall need your ticket reservation to be
sent to us as soon as you get it (not later than 10 days before
arrival date). Form your mentor you will receive a food package to
provide you for the first days. For your first introduction in
Armenia, your mentor will show you around the city at your first
day. (S)he will also show you the local supermarkets, (s)he will
teach you how to use local transportation, and (s)he will buy an
Armenian phone-SIM card with you. Next to that you will visit
some interesting museums together.
MENTOR
To make you feel home as soon as possible in Armenia, you will
have a mentor. Your mentor shows you around, tell you all the
information you need to know, for example about public transport,
grocerie shopping and some Armenian norms and values. Also
your mentor can be your first friend in Armenia and you can do
activities together.
FOOD
You will receive a certain amount of money for food on monthly
basis. You will be able to decide yourself what, when and where to
eat. There are a lot of shops, food stands, cafes and restaurants
available all over the city.
Still doubting...?
"I am really friends with my
mentor and we do a lot of
activities together. I hope I
will still be friends with
them when I leave and hope
they will visit me in France"
"Sharing the accommodation
with other volunteers helps
me to not feel alone. You
have friends from day one
where you can hang out
with"
MATHILDE
RAJA

12. RECEIVE VISIT
Of course your friends and relatives can come to visit you. Please
make sure that you inform us in advance, so that we could help
you to find accommodation for them as well as for you to be able
to have holidays, if you want.
HOLIDAYS
Holiday period will to be agreed in advance with the hosting
organization and HUJ. There is a set of public, religious holidays
and days of memory to be respected and considered as non-
working days. Additionally, the volunteer gets 2 holiday days for
each month of their Service.
MONTHLY ALLOWANCE
Pocket money (a.k.a. Volunteer’s allowance);
Money for food;
Money to pay local transport.
At the beginning of every month the volunteers will receive
monthly allowance consisting of:
The funds can differ according to the program.
PAGE 12
VISA
The citizens of European Union benefit from visa-free entrance to
Republic of Armenia. For a long-term stay (exceeding 180 days) the
foreign citizens are entitled to get Residence Permit. The
procedure of obtaining the Residence Permit is fully done by HUJ
in Armenia.
Still doubting...?
"Everything I do I enjoy but if
I have to say; Ararat region
is my favorite, everywhere
you go there you can see
biblical mountain Ararat and
that is like someone just
made a painting in the sky
so beautiful"
"There is something special
with biblical mountain
Ararat, because you can't
see it everyday. If you wake
up it is always a question if
you get treated with the
beautiful view or not"
MATHILDE
ELIAVA

13. PAGE 13
Marshrutka
Bus
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
You needn’t either sleeping bag or sheets or linen with you in
the project, you will be provided with the bed sheets, linen,
pillowcase, blanket for the winter and pillow.
For your comfort (especially during travels) we also advise to
take a sleeping bag, if you want.
Please bring your own towel and personal hygiene products you
might need during your stay. It is certain that you will find most
of the products you use here 
You will have free time after the work, so you can bring your
music instruments, tapes with your favourite songs and music
and, of course, your good mood and your creativity.
For activities with children you can bring some games or books,
like board games, card games, instruments, painting books.
If you like hiking there are a lot of beautiful hikingtrails so
bring your hikingshoes and clothes
In winter in can be very cold so take your warm clothes with
you
Don't forget your passport, debitcard and health insurence card
CURRENCY
It is better to have money in Euro or US Dollars to exchange it
easily with exchange offices. Besides, you can also withdraw money
from your bank card (make sure it’s an international one): the ATMs
have quite plausible exchange rates.
POST ADRESSS
FOR LETTERS:
<Your Name>
c/o HUJ – Voluntary Service of
Armenia
19a Koryun Street
0009 Yerevan, ARMENIA
FOR PARCEL, PACKAGES
<Your Name>
19a Koryun Street
0009 Yerevan, ARMENIA